The influence of sponge-dwelling gobies (Elacatinus horsti) on the feeding efficiency of their Caribbean tube sponge ( Aplysina sp.) hosts

Mutualistic associations between benthic marine invertebrates and reef taxa are common. Sponge-dwelling gobies benefit from protection within sponge tubes and greater food availability. Sponge-dwelling gobies are hypothesized to increase sponge pump rates by consuming polychaete parasites, but such increases have not yet been demonstrated. We investigated the association between sponge-dwelling gobies (Elacatinus horsti) and two species of tube sponge (Aplysina lacunosa and Aplysina archeri) in Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands. We visually assessed goby presence in sponges and used in situ methods with fluorescein dye to measure estimate feeding rates via pump rates. Aplysina archeri were more likely to host a goby than A. lacunosa. For both sponge species, pump rates of tubes with gobies were higher on average than those of tubes without gobies. Our observations, therefore, suggest that E. horsti associations with Aplysina are likely mutualistic relationships in which sponges benefit from higher feeding rates when gobies are present.

Effect of Oral Motor Intervention on Oral Feeding in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective This review article aimed to explore the effect of oral motor intervention on oral feeding in preterm infants through a meta-analysis. Method Eligible studies were retrieved from four databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) up to July 2020 and screened based on established selection criteria. Thereafter, relevant data were extracted and heterogeneity tests were conducted to select appropriate effect models according to the chi-square test and I 2 statistics. Assessment of risk of bias was performed among the included studies. Finally, a meta-analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of oral motor intervention in preterm infants according to four clinical indicators: transition time for oral feeding, length of hospital stay, feeding efficiency, and weight gain. Results Eighteen randomized controlled trials with 848 participants were selected to evaluate the effect of oral motor intervention on preterm infants. The meta-analysis results revealed that oral motor intervention could effectively reduce the transition time to full oral feeds and the length of hospital stay as well as increase feeding efficiency and weight gain. Conclusions Oral motor intervention was an effective way to improve oral feeding in preterm infants. It is worthy to be used widely in hospitals to improve the clinical outcomes of preterm infants and reduce the economic burdens of families and society. Future studies should seek to identify detailed intervention processes and intervention durations for clinical application.

Effects of attractants inclusion on the growth and survival of Channa striata

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different natural and artificial attractants in the diet of stripped snakeheads Channa striata. The experiment was conducted into two phases- Nursery and Grow-out. There were four treatments TC (Control), TG (Glycine), TA (Alanine) and TN (Nappi) for each phase with three replicates. In phase-1, the fry/fingerling were fed three times daily for four months; in phase-2, the fish were fed twice daily in the morning and afternoon for six months where the effects of formulated diets were compared with control (TC) which is locally available as commercial feed. In phase-1, significantly (p<0.05) lower FCR (1.58±0.13), higher individual weight gain (91.90 g), higher SGR (2.47±1.79 %/day), higher survival (90%), and higher feeding efficiency (57.60±5.54%) were found in the control (TC) compared to all other treatments. On the other hand, in phase-2, significantly (p<0.05) lower FCR (1.63±0.06), higher individual weight gain (299 g), and higher feeding efficiency (45.96±1.63%) were found in Nappi (TN) supplemented diet whereas significantly (p<0.05) higher survival (93.33%) and higher SGR (0.90±0.17 %/day) were found in Glycine (TG) supplement diet compared to the control (TC). Therefore, domestication and then the addition of natural and artificial attractants in formulated feeds may enhance the efficacy of formulated feeds for better growth and survival of the carnivorous fish like stripped snakeheads especially in grow-out phase. Hence, this finding will help to culture C. striata using protein-rich formulated feed adding attractants rather than depending on any live feed or formulated feed which is not commercially feasible.

Author Correction: Feeding efficiency gains can increase the greenhouse gas mitigation potential of the Tanzanian dairy sector

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Effect of liraglutide on neural and peripheral markers of metabolic function during antipsychotic treatment in rats

Background: Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that prevents metabolic side effects of the antipsychotic drugs (APDs) olanzapine and clozapine through unknown mechanisms. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of chronic APD and liraglutide co-treatment on key neural and peripheral metabolic signals, and acute liraglutide co-treatment on clozapine-induced hyperglycaemia. Methods: In study 1, rats were administered olanzapine (2 mg/kg), clozapine (12 mg/kg), liraglutide (0.2 mg/kg), olanzapine + liraglutide co-treatment, clozapine + liraglutide co-treatment or vehicle for six weeks. Feeding efficiency was examined weekly. Examination of brain tissue (dorsal vagal complex (DVC) and mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH)), plasma metabolic hormones and peripheral (liver and kidney) cellular metabolism and oxidative stress was conducted. In study 2, rats were administered a single dose of clozapine (12 mg/kg), liraglutide (0.4 mg/kg), clozapine + liraglutide co-treatment or vehicle. Glucose tolerance and plasma hormone levels were assessed. Results: Liraglutide co-treatment prevented the time-dependent increase in feeding efficiency caused by olanzapine, which plateaued by six weeks. There was no effect of chronic treatment on melanocortinergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic or endocannabionoid markers in the MBH or DVC. Peripheral hormones and cellular metabolic markers were unaltered by chronic APD treatment. Acute liraglutide co-treatment was unable to prevent clozapine-induced hyperglycaemia, but it did alter catecholamine levels. Conclusion: The unexpected lack of change to central and peripheral markers following chronic treatment, despite the presence of weight gain, may reflect adaptive mechanisms. Further studies examining alterations across different time points are required to continue to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the benefits of liraglutide on APD-induced metabolic side effects.

FEEDING EFFICIENCY ENZYME-PROBIOTIC ADDITIVE “BACELL” AND GRANULATED COMPOUND FEED “BIOPROD” FOR LAMBS OF THE DAIRY GROWING PERIOD

Enzyme-probiotic additive “Bacell”, used for feeding lambs at the age of 25 to 112 days of the milk feeding period, increased the live weight gain by 43.3%, survival rate - by 7.5% and the sale value of lamb - by 19, 3%. Feeding lambs for 40 days (at the age from 25 to 65 days), granulated compound feed “Bioprod” increased live weight (during the experiment) - by 31.9%, survival rate - by 14.4%.

Paratectonatica tigrina (Gastropoda: Naticidae) adjusts its predation tactics depending on the chosen prey and their shell weight relative to its own

Paratectonatica tigrina employs three predatory tactics against bivalve prey: wall-drilling, edge-drilling and non-drilling (suffocation) tactics. In this study, we conducted laboratory experiments to examine the predator–prey interactions between the naticid gastropod P. tigrina and two species of bivalve prey, Ruditapes philippinarum and Meretrix lusoria, and to investigate how predatory tactics differ for the bivalve species. Predation success increased with the shell weight ratio between predator and prey, however, there was no significant difference among prey species. The shell weight ratio significantly differed (P < 0.05) between predatory tactics against R. philippinarum, but not against M. lusoria, implying that P. tigrina determines its predatory tactics based on the shell weight ratio for R. philippinarum. However, we observed that feeding duration was not influenced by shell weight ratio or prey species, even though data were separated for each predatory tactic. These results suggest that there is no difference in feeding efficiency based on shell weight ratio between prey species and between predatory tactics. Paratectonatica tigrina may alter its predatory tactics suitably depending on the prey species and the relative size difference, despite the same feeding efficiency.